DoNER Gets 29.4 Percent Higher Allocation

New Delhi, Feb 28 (IANS) The Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) ministry saw a 29.43 percent increase in its budgetary allocation for 2015-16, with extra money pumped in for implementation of various schemes of the North Eastern Council (NEC), the nodal agency for the economic and social development of the region.

In the budget presented Saturday by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, the DoNER allocation was increased from Rs.1,825.45 crore to Rs.2,362.74 crore.

Jaitley emphasised that the reason behind increasing the budget allocation for the northeast region was to bring it within the mainstream and give special priority in terms of development.

As part of the initiative to boost development in the region, Jaitley announced that the government will set up a Centre for Film Production, Animation and Gaming in Arunachal Pradesh, for the northeastern states.

Also a new All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)-like institution will be set up in Assam.

The government's allocation for the schemes of the NEC increased by 26 percent in the budget. In the current budget, the government allocated it Rs.140 crore from the Rs.111 crore in the 2014-15 budget.

The government in the 2014-15 budget had allocated Rs.1,825.45 crore to DoNER.

Jaitley, during his 93-minute speech, said special priority was being given to the region's development.

"The development process includes two visits of the prime minister (Narendra Modi) and launch of important infrastructure projects. The northeastern part of the country will be brought into the mainstream," Jaitley said.

Talking about development in the region, Jaitley said action has been taken with regard to allocation of natural resources, financial inclusion, health and hygiene of the common man, girl education and employment for the youth among others.

"To bring the region into the mainstream, we are also focusing on welfare of labour, agricultural productivity and increasing farm incomes, power, digital connectivity, skilling our youth and efficient and better work culture in government."

The organic farming sector in the northeast also saw a sharp increase in allocation -- Rs.125 crore in comparision to Rs.33 crore in the 2014-15 budget.

However, the government did not show interest in allocating any money for the special package for ecomomic development of the Karbi Anglong Territorial Council (KAATC) which was allocated a sum of Rs.15 crore in the 2014-15 budget.

Jaitley in the 2014-15 budget had announced a new 24x7 television channel "Arun Prabha" for the northeast region.

A sum of Rs.1,000 crore for rail connectivity and Rs.2,000 crore for road connectivity in the northeast region was also allocated.